May 15, 2017

October 09, 2017

September 21, 2018

A jury has convicted a Muncie pain clinic doctor on three counts each of forgery and prescription-related registration offenses. The Delaware Circuit Court jury deliberated less than an hour before finding William Hedrick of Fort Wayne guilty of the six counts.

Local, state and federal authorities raided Hedrick’s Muncie pain clinic in October 2014. They alleged Hedrick and the clinic contributed to the deaths of eight people by over-prescribing pain medication. Prosecutors said the practice saw hundreds of patients some days.

Hedrick’s attorney, James Crum, acknowledged his client had a heavy patient load and reminded jurors they had heard from patients who testified they had a “better quality of life” before the clinic was shut down.

Hedrick’s trial was initially scheduled for May 2017, but was delayed to August following the late introduction of additional evidence related to the forgery charges. Online court records show the trial was postponed three additional times in August 2017 and March and April 2018 before beginning on June 11.

The (Muncie) Star Press reports sentencing in State v. William Hedrick, 18C03-1501-F6-000001, is scheduled for Aug. 9.